Retirement Visa Questions

[EdgarDegas]

Can I apply for a Retirement Visa in my home country?

If it is approved, when does the 1 year period begin? Upon entry to Thailand or the date the visa is approved?

Concerned that the 1 year period might begin before I am fully prepared to transition to a long term stay in Thailand.

Can I visit other countries while residing in Thailand on a Retirement Visa without having to get permission or advising a Thai gov agency of my travels?

[lopburi3]

A single entry O-A visa will provide one year stay from day of entry. You must have re-entry permit for any travel.

A multi entry O-A will provide one year stay from any day of entry for one year from date of issue and allow unlimited travel/return during that time period for a new one year stay on each entry.

[Sheryl]

You can apply for a non-immigrant visa in your own country (explaining your intention to apply for an extension of stay based on retirement). It will be valid usually for 3 months, that means entry has to be within that time.

Upon entry you'll get a stamp allowing a stay of 3 months (or sometimes 2 months which can be extended by another one). Before that time is up, you have to go to immigration and apply for an extension of stay for reason of retirement and show qualifying documents.

If it is granted, you'll have a year from that date. At the same time and in the same office, you can apply for a multiple re-entry permit, this allows you to leave and return under that same visa an unlimited number of times during the period of stay allowed.

You can get the re-entry permit at a later time as well but best to do it all at once since it has to be done at the same immigration office. Should you not get a re-entry permit and then have an unexpected need to leave the country you risk invalidating your visa.

[EdgarDegas]

A single entry O-A visa will provide one year stay from day of entry. You must have re-entry permit for any travel.

A multi entry O-A will provide one year stay from any day of entry for one year from date of issue and allow unlimited travel/return during that time period for a new one year stay on each entry.

If I got a multi entry O-A, entered Thailand and left six months later visit to say, Cambodia, and then returned to Thailand, would a new 1 year stay period begin again on the day of my return?

[lopburi3]

Yes. On any return while visa is valid the entry will be one year from date of entry on a multi entry non immigrant O-A visa.

[Sateev]

Yes. On any return while visa is valid the entry will be one year from date of entry on a multi entry non immigrant O-A visa.

I might add that it's in your best interest to apply for an O-A visa as near to your departure date as processing time allows. The validity period is one year, and if you first enter Thailand shortly after you receive the visa, you can maximize your time before having to apply for an extension by doing a border run just before the validity is expired. Stays of a total of 23+ months are possible, before you have to meet the financial requirement for an extension.

[NancyL]

You can apply for a non-immigrant visa in your own country (explaining your intention to apply for an extension of stay based on retirement). It will be valid usually for 3 months, that means entry has to be within that time.

Upon entry you'll get a stamp allowing a stay of 3 months (or sometimes 2 months which can be extended by another one). Before that time is up, you have to go to immigration and apply for an extension of stay for reason of retirement and show qualifying documents.

If it is granted, you'll have a year from that date. At the same time and in the same office, you can apply for a multiple re-entry permit, this allows you to leave and return under that same visa an unlimited number of times during the period of stay allowed.

You can get the re-entry permit at a later time as well but best to do it all at once since it has to be done at the same immigration office. Should you not get a re-entry permit and then have an unexpected need to leave the country you risk invalidating your visa.

Sheryl, you're describing the process for obtaining an "O" visa (valid for three months after entry) in your home country and then extending it for 12 months due to retirement once in Thailand. Others on this thread are describing getting an "O-A" visa (valid for 12 months after entry) in their home country. Both are equally valid ways to go about getting a "retirement visa".

[CharlieH]

You can apply for a non-immigrant visa in your own country (explaining your intention to apply for an extension of stay based on retirement). It will be valid usually for 3 months, that means entry has to be within that time.

Upon entry you'll get a stamp allowing a stay of 3 months (or sometimes 2 months which can be extended by another one). Before that time is up, you have to go to immigration and apply for an extension of stay for reason of retirement and show qualifying documents.

If it is granted, you'll have a year from that date. At the same time and in the same office, you can apply for a multiple re-entry permit, this allows you to leave and return under that same visa an unlimited number of times during the period of stay allowed.

You can get the re-entry permit at a later time as well but best to do it all at once since it has to be done at the same immigration office. Should you not get a re-entry permit and then have an unexpected need to leave the country you risk invalidating your visa.

Sheryl, you're describing the process for obtaining an "O" visa (valid for three months after entry) in your home country and then extending it for 12 months due to retirement once in Thailand. Others on this thread are describing getting an "O-A" visa (valid for 12 months after entry) in their home country. Both are equally valid ways to go about getting a "retirement visa".

The main difference being an O-A in your home country will require medical & Police reports. An extension based on retirement issued within Thailand does not.

[kdrayong]

How are the costs of the extension of the retirement visa in Thailand and the multiple re-entry permit?

I would just like to know, in case that I want to stay longer than a 90 days and compare it with a visa-run.

TIA

[TerryLH]

Visa extension 1900฿.

Single re-entry permit 1000฿.

Multiple re-entry permit 3800฿.

[EdgarDegas]

You can apply for a non-immigrant visa in your own country (explaining your intention to apply for an extension of stay based on retirement). It will be valid usually for 3 months, that means entry has to be within that time.

Upon entry you'll get a stamp allowing a stay of 3 months (or sometimes 2 months which can be extended by another one). Before that time is up, you have to go to immigration and apply for an extension of stay for reason of retirement and show qualifying documents.

If it is granted, you'll have a year from that date. At the same time and in the same office, you can apply for a multiple re-entry permit, this allows you to leave and return under that same visa an unlimited number of times during the period of stay allowed.

You can get the re-entry permit at a later time as well but best to do it all at once since it has to be done at the same immigration office. Should you not get a re-entry permit and then have an unexpected need to leave the country you risk invalidating your visa.

Sheryl, you're describing the process for obtaining an "O" visa (valid for three months after entry) in your home country and then extending it for 12 months due to retirement once in Thailand. Others on this thread are describing getting an "O-A" visa (valid for 12 months after entry) in their home country. Both are equally valid ways to go about getting a "retirement visa".

The main difference being an O-A in your home country will require medical & Police reports. An extension based on retirement issued within Thailand does not.

If getting an extension / conversion from a three month "O" visa to a Retirement visa while in Thailand doesn't require medical and police checks, then that method it seems like a much easier process. I was concerned about how much effort / time would be required for those documents.

[Lite Beer]

It is a much easier option but for some it might be preferable to keep the money in their own country rather than transferring it to Thailand.

[JusMe]

Yes. On any return while visa is valid the entry will be one year from date of entry on a multi entry non immigrant O-A visa.

I might add that it's in your best interest to apply for an O-A visa as near to your departure date as processing time allows. The validity period is one year, and if you first enter Thailand shortly after you receive the visa, you can maximize your time before having to apply for an extension by doing a border run just before the validity is expired. Stays of a total of 23+ months are possible, before you have to meet the financial requirement for an extension.

This is what I do - in effect, getting almost two years from a one year multiple entry visa. I get the visa very shortly before I arrive in Thailand, get the one year permission to remain stamp, can travel in and out as much as I want, including several months during the summer back in Canada. I ensure I arrive just before my visa expires, and get another stamp giving permission to remain for one year. However, at this time, I cannot leave Thailand without losing my permission to remain, as my visa will have expired.

I have no problem getting the necessary documents in Canada. The medical form is almost funny - gives my doctor a chuckle every time he sees it. And I can get the police report done free in about ten minutes.

This also means that I provide the Royal Thai Consulate with proof of my financial reliability without moving any money out of Canada into Thailand. My living expenses are covered by the use of an atm, whereas all my investments stay safely outside Thailand.

[lopburi3]

However, at this time, I cannot leave Thailand without losing my permission to remain, as my visa will have expired.

All you need to do is buy a re-entry permit before leaving to keep your current permitted to stay on return. Cost is 1,000 baht or you can obtain a multi for 3,800 baht from any immigration office.

[JusMe]

However, at this time, I cannot leave Thailand without losing my permission to remain, as my visa will have expired.

All you need to do is buy a re-entry permit before leaving to keep your current permitted to stay on return. Cost is 1,000 baht or you can obtain a multi for 3,800 baht from any immigration office.

I have wondered about this, but thought that it wouldn't be valid by the time I returned.

For example, if my visa has expired and I get a new re-entry permit in early April, can it be used when I want to return in October?

I thought the five to six month gap was too much and it was advisable simply to get a new visa.

However, if I could do it with a re-entry permit, what kind of documentation is needed for that?

[lopburi3]

No for that time it would not be useful as it only keeps your current permitted to stay alive (which for a visa entry is 90 days or less). It does not add anything.